Glam closets: Revitalize, revamp and reorganize

The 2019 Top Shelf Design Awards Best of Show prize, presented during the Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo held in Charlotte, North Carolina, went to Donna Siben, Closet Organizing Systems, Bartlett, Illinois. Siben also took home the top prize in the Closet: Laminate Over 18 linear feet category for “Revitalize, Revamp and Reorganize Master Closet” and the honorable mention Specialty award for the project “The Dirt Stops Here.”

Here’s what Siben had to say about the award-winning closet project:

The original master closet in this home was both tired and outdated and would not function for the new owners. Too much of this home was reflecting the tastes of earlier decades and the brown/gold tones of yesteryear. They wanted a fresher, lighter palette that worked for their tastes.

Project details
Working closely with the interior designer and client, we decided to use the entire height of the ceiling and widening a new centered doorway with glass framed barn doors to the space allowed additional storage and function. The husband was 6’5” so accommodating his height was vital and providing a visual balance to the space surrounding the cushioned storage bench top and window was important.

Triple mirrored doors with interior lighted shoes and boots behind were important desires of the clients. The third mirror “houses” a steamer (no toe kick) and unusual bulky storage items. Those mirrors needed to center between the islands so both parties could access and utilize that area.

Upper cabinets added the needed additional storage on his side and the twin islands (one with all hampers) created and complemented the balance. Instead of all upper cabinets on her side, large openings with puck lights were used to break up the monotony. Extra-large drawers under her long and medium hang allowed storage for tote bags, handbags and travel items. Pull outs flanking the window included jewelry/necklace and scarf storage for the wife and ties for the husband’s collection.

Vertical dividers created the space for his cap collection. Lighting was provided by new can lights, magnificent chandeliers and Hafele Loox LED strip lighting above the polished chrome rods, inside the triple mirror, puck lights above large display openings and drawer section. A special cabinet on the husband’s side allowed for storage of his travel bag and a hidden safe.

Along with the electrical portion of construction, flooring was changed, heat floor vents moved to under the bench and an additional chase was rerouted outside the space. In addition to a doorway on the man’s side being eliminated, the two doors entering the space were changed to being centered double glass panel barn doors requiring major changes in the adjacent bathroom.

Materials

Modifying a Northern Contours Snow White with Charcoal Glazed face in Amesbury III with flat center and a B-110 edge was used on the three walls along with extra-large glazed crown with thermofoil fascia and extra-large glazed continuous base trim ripped to standard height.

Glazed columns surrounded the husband’s drawer area. This profile was sent to the interior designer’s bath cabinet manufacturer to replicate for the islands.

In addition to the Loox LED Collection Lighting, custom hardware was used throughout the closet. Multiple valet rods were added in the closet along with Rev-a-Shelf designer belt racks, jewelry/accessory insert in velvet to enhance the storage.

Equipment and/or software

Cabware program was used by the designer for the conceptual design work and our engineering department converted those designs in Cabinet Vision for screen-to-machine production.

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About the Author:

Michaelle Bradford

Michaelle Bradford, CCI Media, is Editor of Closets & Organized Storage magazine and Managing Editor for Woodworking Network. She has more than 16 years of experience covering the woodworking and design industry, including visits to custom cabinet shops, closet firms and design studios throughout North America. As Editor of Closets & Organized Storage magazine under the Woodworking Network brand, Michaelle’s responsibilities include writing, editing and coordinating editorial content as well as managing annual design competitions like the Top Shelf Design Awards and Best In Wood Awards. She is also a contributor to FDMC and other Woodworking Network online and print media owned by CCI Media.